DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0119
SINGULAR HISTORY OF AN IMPOSTOR.
99
against him; it was increased by the alarming prospect
of a famine, and waited only for a proper opportunity
to burst forth.
Minds thus prepared, eagerly hailed the intelligence
of the arrival of the supposed Prince. What should
bring a Prince of Modena to Martinico was a question
they never thought of asking ; their imaginations were
entirely occupied with the advantages which the colony
was likely to derive from his presence. Nadau, who en-
tertained a private pique against the governor, was eager
to lay before his host the complaints of the colony, to
acquaint him with the tricks of interested men to raise
the price of provisions, and to describe the misery result-
ing from such conduct. The Prince, indignant at the
recital, swore that he would put an end to such villany,
and that he would punish those who thus abused the con-
fidence of the king; and should the English effect a
landing, he would put himself at the head of the inha-
bitants to repulse them.
This declaration, which Nadau did not fail to repeat,
augmented the general enthusiasm. The fermentation
extended to Fort St. Pierre, where the Marquis de Caylus
then was. The governor flattered himself that he should
extinguish, in a moment, the faction created against
him, and ordered Nadau to send the stranger, who was
his guest, to St. Pierre. Nadau returned for answer, that
there was no doubt but the youth was the hereditary
Prince of Modena, on which the governor sent a letter
by two of his officers, addressed to the Count de Tarnaud,
to persuade him to repair to his residence. “ Tell your
master,” replied the Prince, “ that to the rest of the world
I am the Count de Tarnaud, but that to him I am Her-
cules de Renaud d’Est. If he wishes to see me, let him
come half-way. Let him repair to Fort Royal, in four
or five days; I will be there.”
o 2 The
99
against him; it was increased by the alarming prospect
of a famine, and waited only for a proper opportunity
to burst forth.
Minds thus prepared, eagerly hailed the intelligence
of the arrival of the supposed Prince. What should
bring a Prince of Modena to Martinico was a question
they never thought of asking ; their imaginations were
entirely occupied with the advantages which the colony
was likely to derive from his presence. Nadau, who en-
tertained a private pique against the governor, was eager
to lay before his host the complaints of the colony, to
acquaint him with the tricks of interested men to raise
the price of provisions, and to describe the misery result-
ing from such conduct. The Prince, indignant at the
recital, swore that he would put an end to such villany,
and that he would punish those who thus abused the con-
fidence of the king; and should the English effect a
landing, he would put himself at the head of the inha-
bitants to repulse them.
This declaration, which Nadau did not fail to repeat,
augmented the general enthusiasm. The fermentation
extended to Fort St. Pierre, where the Marquis de Caylus
then was. The governor flattered himself that he should
extinguish, in a moment, the faction created against
him, and ordered Nadau to send the stranger, who was
his guest, to St. Pierre. Nadau returned for answer, that
there was no doubt but the youth was the hereditary
Prince of Modena, on which the governor sent a letter
by two of his officers, addressed to the Count de Tarnaud,
to persuade him to repair to his residence. “ Tell your
master,” replied the Prince, “ that to the rest of the world
I am the Count de Tarnaud, but that to him I am Her-
cules de Renaud d’Est. If he wishes to see me, let him
come half-way. Let him repair to Fort Royal, in four
or five days; I will be there.”
o 2 The